EPL: Everton v Liverpool Preview and Prediction

Date/Time: Saturday 2nd March 2019 (Kick-off 1:00 PM CET). 

The final game of the Premier League weekend comes from Goodison Park where Everton will be hosting the latest Merseyside derby. Some will suggest this is the biggest game left for Everton as they look to dent their rivals' push for the title, but Everton have things to achieve this season like finishing 7th and possibly getting a spot in the Europa League for the next campaign.

Marco Silva has been under pressure in recent weeks as Everton suffered an upset in the FA Cup Fourth Round at Millwall and have been in pretty miserable form in the Premier League. The win over Cardiff City during the week will have eased some of the tensions at the club and there is no doubt the fans will be fully invested getting behind the team.

Liverpool also earned a morale boosting win during the week as they crushed Watford at home, but they seem to have something of an Indian Sign over that club. It is the third time in a row they have beaten Watford by a five goal margin at Anfield, but games at Goodison Park have been a battle for them in recent years.

They don't lose often here, but Liverpool have had to leave Goodison Park with a point in 5 of their last 7 visits. One of the exceptions was a game in which Sadio Mane scored in injury time to win 0-1 here, while the other was a 0-2 win where Jack Rodwell was sent off after 23 minutes and Liverpool struck twice in the final 20 minutes to win.

It has proven to be hard work and Everton should be fresh having had a 17 day break in the middle of this month and also having had an extra day to prepare for this fixture than Liverpool have had. In recent weeks Liverpool have just had a few issues in the final third in putting teams away and they have only won 1 of their last 5 away games in all competitions.

I would be keener on backing Everton if they had not lost 4 of their last 5 games at Goodison Park in the Premier League. Some of those losses have come by wide margins because they have conceded too many goals, but the squad is perhaps in a better place both mentally and physically for this fixture. They can cause problems for a Liverpool team who have not been entirely convincing defensively and I would be surprised if this is an easy day for the visitors.

Having a full goal start with Everton knowing the stake will be returned if they lose by a one goal margin looks the play here. In recent years they have proven to be a tough team to beat, while Marco Silva has managed Hull City to a home win over Liverpool and Watford to a home draw with this opponent in his time in England.

He has been under pressure at Goodison Park, but Marco Silva can earn himself some leeway from the fans by guiding Everton a big result here. It won't be easy if Liverpool have found their form, but Everton with the start looks the play.